Player attachment for pianos



Nov'.- 17, 1942. J; DRAGELIN PLAYER ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 8 1941 Inventor A tlorney Nov. 17, 1942.

V J. DRAGELIN PLAYER ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS Filed Nov. 8, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOEL Dre/ma. IN

Attorney Nov. 17, 1942. J. DRAGELIN PLAYER ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 8, 1941 JOEL 17m GEL/N.

A ttorney Patented Nov. 17, 1942 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to an improved player attachment for pianos wherein the player action, the re-roll action, and the motor operating the same are combined in a single unit supportably mounted on the piano over the keyboard and wherein the striking levers are unusually short and work vertically directly down upon the keys of the piano, and the primary object of my invention is to provide a simple, compact, and eflicient arrangement of the character indicated which is readily adjustable to different pianos, and whose presence occupies no more floor or living space in a room than the piano unequipped.

Other important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the appended drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general front elevational view of a conventional form of piano equipped in accordance with the present invention for automatic pneumatically operated playing of the piano.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the keyboard section of the piano showing the player attachment supportably mounted on a portion of the keyboard and on the key blocks of the piano, with a portion of the casing of the attachment broken away to show the arrangement of the key striking levers arranged relative to the keys.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan View of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the keyboard alongside of one of the piano keys with a portion of the end wall of the player casing broken away to show in side elevation the relation of the piano striking levers to the keys and to their operating mechanism.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designates a conventional type of manually operated piano involving the keyboard which is generally designated 6 and which comprises the horizontal support 1 behind which the keys 8 are mounted in a well known manner. with the usual key blocks 9 located at the outer ends of the keys, and with the depressed spacers 10 located between the end keys and the key blocks 9, the spacers being depressed below the tops of the keys 8 in their elevated position. Advantage is taken of the foregoing structure in accordance with the present invention for operatively supporting the player unit which is generally designated H on the keyboard 6, as set forth below.

The player unit II comprises a suitably elongated casing l2 which is of a length to occupy the space between the key blocks 9 and of a width to extend forwardly a proper distance from the back board Hi to a point adjacent the forward ends of the keys 8 as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. The casing [2 may be suitably ornamentally shaped considering the internal capacity thereof required and be formed of any suitable material and include end walls for guides l4 whose lower ends are designed to rest on the spacers l0 and alongside the adjacent ends of the key blocks 9 as indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings, whereby the rounded striking portions l5 of the most depressed key striking levers l6 are positively prevented from being on a level depressed below the tops of the keys 8. The outer sides of the guide walls M are provided with a forwardly and rearwardly spaced pair of lugs ll through which are threaded vertically adjustable support screws l8 whose lower ends are revolubly connected as indicated by the numeral IS with blocks 20 having felted or insulated bottoms 21 to rest upon the upper surface of the key blocks 9. The arrangement of the screws I8 is provided to enable accurately adjusting the elevation of the key striking levers i6 relative to the keys 3 and to the sharp and flat keys 8'. Once adjusted for a particular piano keyboard, the adjustment of the screws it may be retained and the player removed and replaced as many times as may be desired without further adjustment.

As indicated in Figure 4 of the drawings the key striking levers i5 consist of relatively short generally horizontal arms 22 which are pivoted at their rear ends as indicated by the numeral 23 on lugs 24 which are attached as indicated I by the numeral 25 to supports 26 on the bottom of the pneumatic motor mechanism which is generally designated 2'! and which is generally conventional in form and involves conventional vertical connections 28 with the forward ends of the arms 22. The key engaging elements l5 are located adjacent the front ends of the arms 22 as indicated in Figure 4 of the drawings so as to strike the upper surface of the keys 8 and B at a proper distance from their pivotal mountings (not shown) whereby adequate mechanical operation of the keys is provided for.

The central portion of the front of the player casing I2 is occupied by the player piano roll operating mechanism and attendant structure,

which may be conventional in form and constitutes no part of the present invention, the same being suitably exposed in an opening 3| which may be closed by a hinged door 32. The automatic pneumatic player and re-roll action may preferably although not necessarily be located to the left of the opening 3|, with the air motor (not shown) preferably although not necessarily located to the right of the opening 3|, within the casing l2. A flexible tube 33, leading from the casing l2 and properly connected with the mechanism therein extends from the front of the casing [2 to the air pump cabinet which is generally designated 34 and which is sized and arranged to occupy an out of the wayposition under the keyboard 6 and within the endsof the piano. The pump of the unit 34 is operated by an electric motor which has a flexible cable 35 for connection to an ordinary current outlet 36.

Another cable 31 leads from the unit 34 to the casing 12 in the event that a stop switch for controlling operation of the pump is desired.

It will be observed that the placing of the player unit directly on the keyboard of the piano eliminates the long, expensive, and mechanically inefficient key operating levers which characterize other forms of player attachments which also involve a cabinet for support to be placed in front of the piano or thereunder and have the key striking levers extend from such cabinet or support to and over the keys of the piano keyboard. It will also be observed that the direct vertical action of the key operating elements of the present invention take advantage of their relatively short length and direct connection with the keys and with the operating mechanism of the levers, so as to be more efficient structurally and mechanically.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not wish to limit the application of the invention thereto except as may be required by the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An automatic player attachment for a piano having a keyboard including key blocks and keys located horizontally between the key blocks, said attachment comprising a housing to removably overlie said keyboard between the key blocks, vertically adjustable blocks mounted on the ends of said housing to rest upon said key blocks, said attachment comprising horizontal key striking levers in the lower part of said housing and aligned with the keys and directly overlying the same, said adjustable blocks being adjustable to determine and fix the positions of said levers with respect to the top surface of the keys, and

operating means within said housing for operating said levers to play the keys, said keyboard having spacers located in the space between the key blocks and the adjacent keys, the tops of said spacers being depressed below the top surfaces of the keys and the key blocks, and guides depending from said housing to rest upon said spacers to position said key operating levers at a sufficient elevation with respect to the keys when initially placing the attachment on the keyboard of the piano to prevent undue depression of the keys by said levers before said adjustable blocks can be adjusted.

2. An automatic player attachment for a piano having a keyboard including key blocks and keys located horizontally between the key blocks, said attachment comprising a housing to removably overlie said keyboard between the key blocks, vertically adjustable blocks mounted on the ends of said housing to rest upon said key blocks, said attachment comprising horizontal key striking levers in the lower part of said housing and aligned with the keys and directly overlying the same, said adjustable blocks being adjustable to determine and fix the positions of said levers with respect to the top surface of the keys, and operating means within said housing for operating said levers to play the keys, said keyboard having spacers located in the space between the key blocks and the adjacent keys, the tops of said spacers being depressed below the top surface of the keys and the key blocks, and guides depending from said housing to rest upon said spacers to position said key operating levers at a sufiicient elevation with respect to the keys when initially placing the attachment on the keyboard of the piano to prevent undue depression of the keys by said levers before said adjustable blocks can be adjusted, said guides having portions arranged to be engaged with the inner ends of said key blocks in a manner to assure correct superposition of said key operating levers on the keys related thereto.

3. A player attachment for removable mount ing on a piano keyboard, said attachment comprising a player action consisting of substantially horizontal key operating levers extending forwardly over the individual keys of the keyboard and of shorter length than the keys, said levers having pivoted rear ends and directly engaging said keys, said player action comprising means for moving said levers in vertical planes to depress and release the keys, and an open bottom housing enclosing said player action and supportably mounted at its ends solely on portions of the keyboard, said levers depending out of said bottom of the housing when depressed JOEL DRAGELIN. 

